Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} View Online Technology Technology   The Big Story  Congress to combat nonconsensual AI porn  Political momentum is building to regulate the spread of nonconsensual explicit deepfakes as the issue of the digitally altered images has moved from a potential threat to a reality.   © Getty Images Several bipartisan bills introduced in Congress aim to mitigate the spread of nonconsensual explicit images made using artificial intelligence (AI), an issue that has not only plagued public figures and celebrities, but everyday people and even kids. “The past year, it's really been a new thing where it’s forced itself — where we’ve got a real big problem,” said Anna Olivarius, the founding partner of McAllister Olivarius, a transatlantic law firm specializing in cases of race and gender discrimination. In January explicit AI-generated images made to look like Taylor Swift circulated online, bringing mass attention to the issue. The outcry inspired lawmakers and the White House to push platforms to enforce their rules and prevent their spread of such images. While the spread of the Swift deepfakes put a spotlight on the rise of nonconsensual AI porn, the issue has become more widespread. Schools have even been forced to grapple with the new form of cyberbullying and harassment as students create and spread deepfakes of their peers in a largely unregulated space. “It’s impacting tons of everyday people,” she said. Lawmakers have also been victims. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who is one of the lawmakers spearheading a bill to fight explicit deepfakes, spoke about being targeted by nonconsensual explicit deepfakes herself in an April interview with Rolling Stone. The issue is drawing in support from lawmakers across the political spectrum. One of the bills, the Defiance Act, is led by Ocasio-Cortez and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), while another, the Take It Down Act, is led by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Olivarius said the support on both ends is striking. “It’s looking like we might have something here finally that lawmakers can agree upon or enough to actually pass,” she said. Read more in a full report coming to TheHill.com.   Welcome to The Hill’s Technology newsletter, we're Rebecca Klar and Julia Shapero — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Programming note: We'll be back in your inboxes Friday after a break tomorrow for Independence Day.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future:   Paramount, Skydance reach tentative merger deal Paramount’s parent company, National Amusements, has come to a tentative deal on a possible merger with media conglomerate Skydance. Paramount had previously reportedly stopped talks with Skydance on a merger, and news about talks crumbling came out last month. However, according to a Tuesday report from CNBC, sources said a preliminary deal that has been referred to a Paramount committee has come together. That deal is being …  Full Story   Newsom launching podcast with former NFL star Marshawn Lynch California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will start a podcast with retired NFL star Marshawn Lynch and his agent, iHeartMedia announced Wednesday. The launch of the show, called “Politickin’,” comes as Newsom is among those floated to replace President Biden on the 2024 ticket should Biden choose to end his campaign. iHeartMedia described the pairing as “unexpected,” though the governor has been close friends with Lynch’s agent, Doug …  Full Story   Bipartisan lawmakers urge DOJ to act ‘expeditiously’ on TikTok complaint  Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take quick action on a complaint about TikTok referred to the department by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), according to a letter sent Tuesday.   The complaint at issue centers on allegations of TikTok violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which was uncovered through an FTC investigation.   Sens. Ed Markey …  Full Story   The Refresh  News we've flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics:   ChatGPT, Copilot repeat false debate claim  OpenAI's ChatGPT and Microsoft's Copilot AI chatbots repeated a false and debunked claim that CNN was running the presidential debate on a "1-2 minute delay," NBC News reported.    MySpace-like app hits No. 1 on App Store Noplace, a MySpace-like social media app aimed at Gen Z, hit No. 1 on the App Store after opening to the general public, TechCrunch reported.   In Other News  Branch out with other reads on The Hill: China is the runaway leader in generative AI patent applications followed by the US, the UN says GENEVA (AP) — China has requested far more patents than any other country when it comes to generative AI, the U.N. intellectual property agency said Wednesday, with the United States a distant second. The technology, which offers the potential to boost efficiency and speed up scientific discoveries … Full Story   Chinese firms eye Morocco as way to cash in on US electric vehicle subsidies TANGIERS, Morocco (AP) — After the United States passed new subsidies designed to boost domestic electric vehicle production and cut into Beijing’s supply chain dominance, Chinese manufacturers began investing in an unlikely place: Morocco. In the rolling hills near Tangiers and in industrial parks … Full Story   What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Trump widens lead on Biden after debate in highly anticipated poll Former President Trump has expanded his lead over President Biden in the aftermath of last week’s debate to 6 points, up from 3 just a week prior, … Read more Michelle Obama only Democrat to beat Trump in new poll Former first lady Michelle Obama is the only Democrat to beat former President Trump in a new poll Tuesday. The survey, conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, … Read more   What Others are Reading  Opinions related to tech submitted to The Hill: The internet’s oldest problem is also its youngest: Child safety     You're all caught up. See you Friday!  Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Technology newsletter Subscribe